A deceased North Atlantic Right Whale was found ashore in Edgartown Monday.
The whale, believed to be a juvenile female was discovered at Cow Bay, and a team from the International Fund for Animal Welfare had taken charge of the scene.
The cause of the whale's death is not known, but a rope caught near the tail indicates an entanglement with fishing gear or collision with a vessel might have occurred.
The right whale is considered a critically endangered species, with only about 350 left in the population.
Less than 70 of these are breeding females.
(Photo credit should read DON EMMERT/AFP via Getty Images)
Photo: DON EMMERT / AFP / Getty Images